Artificial bait.



E. J. & E. M. LOOKHART.

ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

APPLICATION rmzn men, 1913.

1, 1 1 3,360. Patented 0ct.13, 1914.

MZZJZMWZ Inventors UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. LOCKHART AND EVELYN M. LOCKHART, 0F GALESBURG, MICHIGAN.

ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Application filed August 4, 1913. Serial No. 782,972;

relates more particularly to an improvement.

over the devices disclosed in Patents Nos. 923,670 and 1,009,077, issuedJune 1, 1909 and November 21, 1911, respectively.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel and simpleattachment for a buoyant or flotative bait body, which will cause thebod to dive into the water when drawn or jer ed forwardly by the fishingline, and which will cause the body to move under the surface of thewater as the fishing line is drawn or reeled in.

The present invention also contemplates the production of a device ofthenature indicated which will tend to impart a lateral or side-wisemovement to the bait body, in order that the body, when drawn throughthe water, will simulate the movements of a minnow or live bait, to mosteffectively attract or lure the larger fish.

With the foregoing general objects out-' lined and with other ob ects inview, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood, the present invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and 1n the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it=

being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. e w

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of theimproved bait or lure. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3is a front end view of the device, on a slightly enlarged scale. Fig. 4is a perspective view of the device.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to thedrawing, there is provided a body 1, turned or fashioned from wood, orother buoyant or fiotative material, and preferably ovoid or fusiform incon tour, although it is to be understood that the body may be ofvarious proportions, and

forms. The forward end of the body 1, is provided with an eye screw orother attachmg means 2 for the attachment of the-line 3, whereby thebait may be drawn forwardly by means of a fishing pole, or a reel,whichever is desired.

- The improved attachment for causing the body to dive and move' underthe surface of the water, comprises a tube 4, preferably fashioned froma blank of sheet metal or other suitable stock separate from andconsiderably smaller than the body 1. The tube 4 is tapered, and isdisposed below the bottom of the body l, adjoining the forward end ofthe body, the axis of the tube 4 being inclined rearwardly' so as tointersect the axisof the body 1 at a point adjoining the rear end of thebody. The larger end of the tube '4 is disposed forwardly, while thesmaller end is disposed rearwardly and relatively close to the bottom ofthe body 1, the tube 4 being split longitudinally from end to end at itstop, as at 5, and the edges of the split 5 being provided with divergingcurved ears 6 intermediate the ends of the tube 4. The ears 6 restsnugly against the bottom of the body 1, and are secured to the body bymeans of screws or other securing members 7, whereby the tube 4 isfirmly carried by the bottom. of the body.

The improved weed guard is preferably fashioned from a length ofresilient or flexible wire of suitable gage and quality, theintermediate ortion of the wire or strand being twisted lnto an eyeletor loop 8, while the adjoining portions of the two sections of the wireare bent back over the side portions of the eyelet or loop 8 to formdiverging arms 9. The terminal portions of the wire or strand are bentangularly from the arms 9 to provide the antennae or feeler-likemembers- 10 which diverge downwardly from the free ends of the arms 9.The arms 9 are preferably bent or curved to con' form to the curvatureof the forward end portion of the body 1, and the intermediate portionor bend of the eyelet or loop 8 is preferably straight.

The weed guard is detachably carried by the body 1, in advance of thetube 4 by means of a flexible or resilient tongue or leaf spring 11formed from a strip of metal. tongue 11 is disposed snugly against thebottom of the body 1 adjoining the forward end of the body, the rear endof the tongue The '11 being clamped between the and the tube 4, and thetongue 11 secured firmly to the body 1, by meanso a screw or othersecuring member 12 engaged or directly in advance of the screw 12, 'witha crimp or outstruck portion 13 receiving the straight portion of theeyelet or loop 8.

The screw 12 in being tightened will clamp the forward-end of the tongue11 against the body, to maintain the weed uard in position, it beingobserved that t e weed ard is free to swing or oscillate toa limitedextent. When the weed guard or anten'na: thereof, are swung rearwardlythe arms 9 are adapted to swing toward the body 1 to limit the rearwardmovement of the antennae 10. In this manner, when the antennae 10 areswung to their rearmost position, they will be slightly incllnedfas seenin Figs. 1 and 2. 7

The body.1 is adapted to carry one or more hooks for snagging orcatching the fish which attempt to bite or swallow-the bait. Asillustrated,.a pair of hooks 14 are carried by the bottom of the body 1in rear of the tube 4, and the trailer hook 1st is carried by the rearend or tail of the body 1. The hooks 14 are attached to the body 1 in apeculiar or unique manner, as will be presently described.

Washers 15 are clamped against the bottom of the body 1 atlongitudinally spaced points, b 1 meansof screws or other securmg memJQI'S 16, the washers 15 each being provided with an eye 17, asillustrated in Fig. 4, to engage the respective screw 16 adjacent thehead thereof. The washers 15 are preferably stamped from sheet metal andare provided with the angular tails or extensions 18, the free ends ofwhich engage in sockets 19 drilled or provided in thebottom of thebody 1. The mouths of the soclcets lfl are preferably countersunk orenlarged, as at 20. The eyes of the hooks 1 1 loosely engage the basalportions of the tails or extensions 18, and'work-within the countersunkportions 20 in order that the hooks may swing or oscillateloosely invarious directions. 7 y

In use, the improved bait is cast in the usual manner, and ordinarilywhen the line is slackcncd. the body 1 will float. \Vhen the body 1 idrawn forwardly through the medium of the line 3. by swinging or jerkingthe polc, or by reeling in the line, the watcrin mssing diagonallyupward through the tube 4, will cause the body to dive or submergequickly and readily into the water,

and as the line is drawn forwardly, the

body will move under the surface of the water, due to the continual flowof the water through the tube 4, as will be apparent. The inclination ofthe tube 4: will give a downward =thrust to the body as the body -isdrawn through the water, while the taper of the tube will create aresistance to the passage of the water through the tube.

.which will increase the cflicicncy of the pres ent device, as well astending to move the body sidewise or laterally. This latter action isincreased, by.the action of the water passing through the tube 4impinging against .the bottom of the body and being deflected laterallyto the respective sides.

It is evident that the tube 4 and its ears (3 may be readily stampedfrom a blank ofsheet metal, the intermediate portion of the blank being,crimped or doubled to form the tube or corrugation 4 providing a waterpassage independent of the body. The

present attachment is applicable to the body in an easy and simplemanner, to accent plish the results desired, and without drilimg holesor cutting slotsdn the body- The body 1 may be finished in any desirablemanner to increase the attractiveness there of for luring the largerfish and the polish or finish of the body is not in any mannerencumbered by the attachment above described. v

The weed guard is of advantage when the bait or lure is employed in lilyponds or in other waters containing weeds or other vegetution, it beinobserved, of course, that when the bait is employed in open waters, theweed guard may be detached. The antennae tend to deflect the weeds andother extraneous objects out fot the path of the hooks, and the tube 4,whereby the efficiency of the bait will be maintained, although the baitis employed in weedy waters or the like. To detach the weed guard, it isn'ierely necessary to loosen the screw 12, in which event, the eyelet orloop 8 may he slipped out of engagement with the forward end of thetongue 11., The hooks 14 are also readily detached fr m the body. forthe purpose of replacement, or the like, it merely being necessarytoloosen. the screws 16, which will permit the washers 15 to he loosenedin order that the tails or extensions 18 may be withdrawn from thesockets 19. After the washers have been loosened, the hooks may heslipped oil of the tails or extensions 18. and may be replaced by otherhooks, it

being understood that the hooks may be of that the diving attachment isrelatively small and noneneumbering, which. is highly essential, andthat the said attachment is applied to the forward end portion of thebody, so as to further render \he attachment non-encumbering. Theattachment will not interfere with the books: which are attached to thebody. and furthermore, the tube or pansage being disposed at. theforward end of the both will came the body to dive or descend into thewater. in a pram tieallv horizontal position. The tube or pas:- sageeing disposed at thet'oiward end of the bbdy, and at the bottom of thebody, and being tapered, will cause the body to dive in the mannerindicated. which will tend to impart a iIflIlSVQlsO nuivement to thebody, to simulate the movement of a minnow or live bait.

Having thus de-rri bed the invention. what is claimed as new 1. In anartificial bait, a buoyant hoolicarrying body. and a member separablefrom and attached to the body, the mem her being considerabl :auallerthan the body and having an inrliinul water pans-age iode pendentthereof.

In an artitirial bait, a buoyant hook. rarrying body, and a memberformed from a blank separable from and having it. terminals attarhed tothe body, the member being eonsii'lcialxlfv smaller than the body andhaving its intermediate portion bent to provide a corrugation, thecorrugation beiug inclined and firming a water pas. independent of thebody.

3. .In an artificial bait, a buoyant hoole carrying body, and an inlined tube considerably smaller than the body and attached thereto.

4. In an artifi ial bait, a buoyant hookcarrying body, and a relativelysmall inrlined longitudinally .-plit tube, having ears projecting from n(!(l and resting againet and :ecured to the bmly.

In an artificial bait, a buoyant hoole carrying btxly. and a. rearwardlyinclined and tapered tube diepo ed below the body, the tube being splitlongitudinally at top and having ears proje ting from its edges and.-,(?lili(l to the body.

ti. In an :H'iil'l inl bait. a buoyant hoolr carrying body, an inclinedtube having oppositeiy projecting ears resting against the body, andmeans for securing the ears to the body.

7. In an artificial bait, a buoyant hookcarrving body, a rearwardlyinclined and tapered tube disposed below the body and having oppositelyprojecting ears resting lhereagainat, and means for securing the ears tothe body.

In an artificial bait, a. buoyant hookcarrying body, and a tubeconsiderably smaller than the body attached to the forward end portionthereof. the tube being intlined and tapered rearwardly.

9. In an artificial bait, a buoyant hookcarrying body, and a rearwardlyand inrlined tapered tube carried by the'bottom of the body at. theforvard end portion thereof.

10. In an artificial bait, a buoyant hookrarrying body. and a memberformed from a blank separable from and terminally attached to the body.the said member being rozndderably smaller than the body and having itsintermediate portion provided with u tube, and the tube being inclined.

11. In an artiiirial bait, a buoyant hook- -arrying body. and a memberformed from a blank separable from and terminally attached to the bottomof the body, the said member being coiniderably smaller than the bodyand having its intermediate portion bent to provide a tube, and the tubebeing inrlined.

12. in an artificial bait. a buoyant hookearrying body, and a memberformed from a blank separable from and terminally attached to the bottomof the body at the forvcard end thereof, said member being con siderablysmaller than the body and having its intermediate portiui provided witha tube. the tube being inclined and tapered rev rwa rdly.

in testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own. we have heretoafiixed. our signalure in the preaence of two Witnesses.

EDWVARD J. LUL KHART. EVELYN M. LOCKHART.

ll'itneeses:

SIDNEY 1)U1\N, CARL CLAIP.

